The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-10-08
THE srAas AND STRIPES.


rhe House in which the First American
Ensisn was Made.
On Arch street. below Third, stands
little old building. two stories and
half high, bearing sign which informs
the passer-by that within the house was
made the first American flag and that |
in these days ho can buy beer or liquor
there.
Early in 1777 a committee appointed
by the Continental Congress to select q |
design for National flag went with |
General Washington to the little shop
of Mrs. Elizabeth Ross, at 239 Arch
street, to have their ideas embodied in
bunting. Mrs. Ross was n milliner
whose principal business was among
the Quaker ladies, and in the projecting
window were hung the correct forms Of
the brown and drab bonnets about
whose make up the women of the
Friends society were and are rs par
ticular as the lady who now stops ones
view ut the thcater. General WASH
ington sketched on a scrap of paper the
design agreed upon. There were thir-
teen stripes Of alternate white and red,
and in the blue union were to be thir-
teen white stars ranged in q circle.
There is a tradition that General WASH
ington ordered that the stars have six
points. She won the day by showing
her visitors how a star with five points
could be made with one clip of her scis-
sors. The flag was made in her little
back room, and on July IA of the same
year Congress adopted the design rs the
national banner
The building has changed but little
since then. A large. tree which stood
in front of it during the revolution sur
! vived until 1876, when it became dam
gerous and was cut down. But the
house stands as it did then. Even Mrs.
Ross show-window is preserved and
, the wooden shutters on the second-story
windows and the dormer- window in the
sharply sloping roof are the same that
looked down on Arch street hundred
. years ago.
The bar-room would even now be
recognized as Mr.. Ross shop if one of
that committee could now revisit it.
a Passing from this room through II AZ.
, row entry and up two steps, one enters
: Mrs. Ross work-room, where, without
doubt, the flag was cut out and sewed
together. 1t is even now n queer ole
q room. On its furthest end is the OLD
: fireplace now covered with wallpaper
. but showing at the top II row of the
L 4 blue and white tiles which once sur
n rounded it. Built into one corner is 6
Q three-cornered wooden cupboard. The
t very locks and knobs on the doors arc
Q of the pattern of the last century. Til,
:, stairways of this house are all winding
: and very narrow. That leading to tht
t cellar is very steep. The attic is still
floored with the puncheon boards whicl
- - once were the only flooring in the hous'
4, an inch thick and eighteen inche
ir wide. The only new thing about tn
d whole structure is back kitchen, bull
. within the last few years.
" Mrs. Amelia Mund comely German
t widow, who keeps the tavern and own
III the property, told what she knew of tn
L. history of the building since the time o
" 10 Mrs. Ross. "It was occupied rs Il tailor
ID shop for many years, and my HUSBAND
y bought it over forty-five years ago
T. Neither he nor would allow any thing t.
10 be changed unless an absolute necessit
nc TO keep the building from going t
er pieces 1t is strong and well built. an
to has needed very little repairing. Whe
to the floor of what was the shop was take
ba bn up some years ago the original tloe
he was taken away, as it could not be kel
he from falling into the cellar. Peopl
al came from long distances to get piece
d. of it as relics, and one gentleman had
.s' board made into table and draped
he with the American flag. The house III
as til two or three weeks ago never had
IL sign to tell people that the first Amer
Oh can flag was made here, but though
by people ought to know. Any way, Nv
had no end of visitors to inquire abor
Up the old house. Not many of them wer
oy Philadelphians, for they don't seem
be care much about the relics of the Revc
EST luton nowadays, but great man
m, IN Western people and visitors to the cit
have come to this house and taken q
n much interest in it as they did in Indt
~ pendence Hail."
nh On either side of No. 239 are tn
of buildings used for manufacturing pu
At poses, and the space this relic of histor
"a occupies is becoming too valuable for
~ to stay there much longer. Mrs. Nun
says she wishes the Historical Societ
lin would buy the building and move it OIL
Dr. to the park beside William Penn
,,v Letitia street house. Several ladies hay
ed already become interested in this pr
nd ject, and the Historical society is sal
ice to have it under sonsideration.-Phil
~, nd delphia Press.
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of 'HG No"0EH SGvcN'
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